Sewing machine for tubular fabrics



Oct. 16, 1956 B. STEVENS, JR

SEWING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1954Oct. 16, 1956 s. STEVENS, JR

SEWING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1954Oct. 16, 1956 a. STEVENS, JR

SEWING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1954United States Patent SEWING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS Brooks Stevens,Jr., Concord, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ames TextileCorporation, Lowell, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMarch 17, 195'4, Serial No. $16,811

2 Claims. (Cl. 112-63) This invention relates to a sewing machine forsewing together the ends of tubular fabrics of long length and, moreparticularly, knitted tubes.

Tubular fabrics are knitted in pieces many yards in length. In thefinishing process it is desirable and customary to sew together thesetubes, end to end, so that an indefinite number of lengths are handledas a single, continuous tube in the various finishing operations. Theseam is a circular one, that is, the ends of the tubes are not flattenedand sewed together in that form, but the seam runs around thecircumference of the tubes so that the central opening extendscontinuously from one piece to the other.

If we can imagine the somewhat unlikely demand that we sew together thetops "of two mens socks, it i clear that we can stufi one inside of theother and align the two edges, telescope the opened tops over a clothplate of a suitable sewing machine, and make our seam. In the case,however, of tubes of great length, it is impractical to so telescopethem. What has hitherto been done is to get a few inches of the twoedges superposed fiat- Wise, pushing the rest of the material out of theway as best we can, sew together these few inches, then superposeanother short length, rearranging the parts to get them out of the way,and so proceeding inchmeal around the circumference. The two tubes arethen drawn apart into line and the seams flattened out.

In accordance with my invention a machine is provided permitting thehandling of long tubes and the sewing together of their edges in acircular seam as a continuous operation, without the necessity forrearrangements.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine, partly in section,illustrating, although somewhat diagrammatically, the end portions oftwo tubes being operated on;

Fig. 2 is an elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is a view showing the upper left-hand portion of what appears inFig. l on a larger scale; :and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modification.

It will be understood that the drawing is necessarily diagrammatic sincethe illustration of the tubular fabrics by a double line exaggeratestheir thickness, and certain other parts are displaced to accommodatethis exaggeration. Further exaggerations would arise if it wereattempted to show functional parts of a sewing mechanism such as theneedle, the presserfoot, etc., with double lines, and they havetherefore been illustrated in the present instance by single lines, asthe actual mechanical construction of such parts is well known.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine there shownis organized on a suitable frame embodying a generally rectangularwheeled base from the two sides of which arise side plates .or frames12, which support a top 14. On this top is mounted a sewing head orsewing machine 16 which may be of any suitable or conventional formobtainable as such from many sources of supply. The machine is sopositioned that its needle N vibrates in a vertical plane adjacent tothe left-hand side of the machine viewing Fig. 1, access to the sewingmechanism being from that side. Herein the sewing machine 16 is drivenby a belt 18 from a countershaft 20, itself driven by belt 22 from awheel 24 connected to electric motor 26 through a friction clutch ofconventional form, which may be operated by the arm 28, pivoted at 30,and adapted to be operated through a connecting cable 32 by a treadle 34adjacent the base 10 of the machine. It will be noted that thecountershaft .and the motor are supported from a bracket 36 arrangedoutwardly of the right-hand frame 12 of the machine as seen in Fig. 2,for reasons which will appear.

In accordance with my invention I provide a carrier on which thesuperposed edge portions of two tubes of fabric may be superposed forfeeding continuously throughout their circumference beneath the needle Nof the sewing head 16. This carrier takes the form of an open centeredannulus 38, having a cylindrical outer surface. As distinguished from awheel, which is supported from a hub adjacent its axis by spokes or aweb, this annulus is supported by devices positioned remote from itsaxial center, so as to provide an unobstructed space of large areaaround that center. I have herein illustrated the annulus as providedwith two ribs 40 along its inner surface between which are receivedsupporting rolls 42 (see Fig. 2) one substantially in the one o'clockposition viewing that figure, another in the six oclock position, andthe third in the eleven oclock position, the first and third beingoverhung from the left-hand end of the machine viewing Fig. 2 bybearings 44 secured to the bottom of the top 14, and the second from acrossbar 46 extending between the two sides 12 at a position relativelynear to the base 10.

In the modification which I am about to describe the annulus is rotatedabout its axis in timed relation to the movements of the sewing head bythe motor 26. Herein (see Fig. 2) the roll 42 which is in the one oclockposition in that figure, is driven by a belt 48 from a variable speedreduction gearing received in a housing 50 (which gearing may be ofconventional form so that it is unnecessary to illustrate or describe itin detail), this gearing taking motion from the countershaft 20 throughbelt 52. By this arrangement, when the sewing machine is being operatedthe annulus is turned at a suitably reduced speed relative to the speedof revolution of the motor.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the space within theinterior circumference of the annulus is substantially unobstructed inthe area between the two side frames 12, the top 14 and the crossbar 46.

As a result of this construction the end of a tubular piece of fabric T1may be introduced into this space from the right, viewing Fig. 1, passedthrough the center of the annulus 38 and have its edge turned back overthe outer face of the same, so that it projects somewhat to the rearthereof. Another tube T-2 is brought up at the left of the machine andits edge telescoped over the edge of fabric T-l, the two end edges beingaligned and arranged to project beyond the right-hand side of theannulus, over the cloth plate C of the lsewing machine, and beneath thepresserfoot P to be held by it and to be operated on by the needle N.When the carrier annulus 38 has made a revolution a circular seam iscompleted and the joined edges of the fabric may be drawn off from thesurface of the annulus and the two lengths extended into alignment.

The two tubes of fabrics are of course limp and the arrangementillustrated in the figures is in a sense diagrammatic. The parts notbeing operated on may dispose of themselves. A twist of a single turnplaced in their Patented Oct. 16, 1956 lengths by the operation of themechanism is not objectionable. We may also point out here that if, inthe machine illustrated, a line is drawn vertically from the edges ofthe two fabrics as Seen at the top of Fig. 1, where they extend underthe needle, it would intersect the crossbar 46. However, we are notconcerned with a rigid flange projecting outwardly in overhangingrelation to the annulus. Where the edges are supported by the clothplate C of the machine they are supported as it were by continuation ofthe surface of the annulus, but otherwise they are limp, and throughoutthe greater proportion of the circumference can dispose of themselves byfolding inwardly or outwardly, as the case may be, around the adjacentedge of the annulus.

As herein disclosed the cylindrical surface of the annulus is smooth andwithout projections or teeth to engage the fabric, which construction ispreferred. in the case of a knitted fabric it may be slightly stretchedto position it over the cylindrical surface, and this is easier to doand a more even circumferential application is possible than if it hadto be stretched over the tops of a series of teeth. Also, slightrearrangement of the fulness or tension is possible as the sewingproceeds.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the three rolls 42 which support theannulus are all merely supporting rolls, the driving mechanism from thecountershaft 29 being omitted. Attached to the cylindrical face of theannulus is a thin sheet 60 of flexible material such as rubber, whichprojects toward the sewing head 16 for a slight distance, but does notextend to the position of the needle N. The sewing head has feed dogs F,diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, such as those used in aso-called four-motion feed, and the edge of the covering 6t) is adaptedto be engaged by at least one of the feed dogs as seen at the left inFig. 4, while others engage the edges of the tubes T-1 and T-2, wherethey project beyond the covering. The annulus is made as light asfeasible, being constructed, for example, of aluminum. Therefore, in theoperation of the machine, the feeding mechanism of the sewing head,acting through the dogs, will rotate the wheel of the annulus as itfeeds the edges of the fabric beneath the needle.

In the case of an ordinary sewing machine the operator usually supportsthe work and moves it along the cloth plate so that the feed motion isnot burdened with the task of dragging along a long piece of fabric, butmerely to move along a small portion loosely presented to it by theoperator. Likewise in this case the operator may turn the annulus 38 byhand as the work proceeds, relieving the feed of the sewing head of themajor portion of the drag.

i am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in severalmatters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to theappended claims to indicate those principles ofthe invention exemplifiedby the particular embodiment described and which it is desired to secureby Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A sewing machine for uniting the ends of long lengths of tubularfabric comprising a fabric carrier in the form of an open-centeredannulus, means interior to said annulus for supporting it for rotationabout its own axis in overhanging position with its side edges radiallyremote outwardly from said supporting means, which means are organizedremote from the axial center line of the annulus to provide anunobstructed space about the center line through which the end portionof a length or fabric may pass, the annulus having an unostruc-tedexterior cylindrical face to receive the turned-back edge of a tube offabric led from one side of the annulus and through the open centerthereof and, superposed on said turned back face, the edge of a secondtube extended to the annulus from the other side and a sewing mechanismproper positioned adjacent said one side of the annulus and also remotefrom the center line thereof to permit access to said imobstructed spaceat a location radially inward of the machine throughout an area insubstantial axial alignment with said space, said mechanism comprising aneedle vibrating substantially radially of the annulus for operating onthe superposed edges projecting past the face of the annulus toward saidone side.

'2. A sewing machine for uniting the ends of long lengths of tubularfabric comprising a-fabric carrier in the form of an open-centeredannulus, means for supporting it for rotation about its own axis, whichmeans are organized remote from the axial center line of the annulus toprovide an unobstructed space about the center line through whichthe-end portion ofa length of fabric may pass, the annulus having anexterior cylindrical face, a flexible exterior covering affixed to saidface projecting a short distance beyond one side of'the annulus, saidface being adapted to receive over said covering the turned-back edge ofa tube of fabric led from one side of the annulus and through the opencenter thereof and, superposed thereon, the edge of a second tubeextended to the annulus from the other side and a sewingmechanism'proper positioned adjacent said one side of the annulus andalso remote from the center line thereof topermit access to saidunobstructed space at a location radially inward of the machinethroughout an area in substantial axial alignment with said space, saidmechanism comprising a needle vibrating substantially radially of theannulus foroperating on the superposed edges projecting past the face ofthe annulus and past the edge of its covering toward said one side andalso comprising fed dogs at least one of which operates on said coveringto advance the wheel and the tubular edge portions supported thereonpast the needle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS595,229 Weyburn Dec. 7, 1897 FOREIGN PATENTS 182,390 Great Britain July'6, 19 22

